Marchioness Helevisa Reinsel
New
Roleplay posts: 8
Age: 30s
Physical Description: Helevisa is a tall, slender woman with a pointed face. Her eyes are grey-blue. Her hair is long and jet-black, usually tied up to stay out of her face. Her face suggests a lack of sleep, with her eyes often underlined with dark circles that she takes great pains to hide. She takes her appearance seriously, believing it to be directly tied to her work, and is meticulous about the way she looks depending on who she is meeting.
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Clothes and Equipment: Helevisa prefers to dress practically, usually with a long dark coat and a black knee-high pair of boots. The rest of her outfit changes on a whim, usually neutral tones with the occasional splash of red or orange. Her only accessory is a gold ring that she wears upon her ring finger that has a fire opal embedded in it. It's warm to the touch.
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Allegiances: The Isran Empire
Registered: Dec 5, 2019 12:25:12 GMT -8
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Post by Marchioness Helevisa Reinsel on Dec 5, 2019 13:20:30 GMT -8
The sound of boots hitting the floor echoed in the hallway leading up to the Empress’ office before the door opened.
Helevisa entered, stepping forward before dropping into a curtsy that bordered on uncomfortable for the taller woman. She held it for just a moment before she straightened herself back up, smoothing out her jacket and folding her arms behind her back.
“Empress, I received your summons and came as soon as I could. What can I do for her imperial majesty?” Her tone was steady even as curiosity began to overtake her. A personal summons rarely seemed good, but she wasn’t going to question the Empress’ motives. Whatever the reason may be, Helevisa knew that it would be an important one.
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Empress Naoki
Famous
Roleplay posts: 2,238
Physical Description: =========================
Empress Naoki is a curvaceous woman of average height, indeterminate age, and catlike features. Her hair is a dark auburn, often pulled back into a long braid. Her ears are both soft and fluffy, and her tail is never less than perfectly groomed. Amber eyes glisten in the shadows cast by her hair.
Clothes and Equipment: =========================
Naoki's wardrobe is to her as a frame is to a painting. Sometimes embellished with detail to be attractive in its own right, but never the focus. Usually simple but elegant, tightly fitting and highly revealing, used only to frame the beauty within.
Additionally, Naoki is, when clothed, often adorned with a small collection of accessories. She wears an earring, a brilliant cut amethyst, in her right ear. The silver signet ring of Isra is worn on her left pinky, marking her as High Lady of Isra. Directly adjacent, she wears the golden signet ring of The Isran Empire as its Empress. On the inside of her left thigh, there is a tattoo depicting a rose entwined with tentacles.
Allegiances: The Isran Empire
Player's online availability : Excessively often. Timezone: ET (-5)
Registered: Sept 12, 2015 13:02:17 GMT -8
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Post by Empress Naoki on Dec 5, 2019 22:49:31 GMT -8
“Ah, Marchioness!” The Empress sets her book aside and gestures for Helevisa to come sit in front of her desk. “I have an assignment for you, though there’s no hurry.”
Empress Naoki waits for her guest to sit and get comfortable before launching into her monologue.
“Studying maps of The Empire, you may or may not recall The Duchy of Darrie. It is one of our relatively far-flung provinces, down around not so far from Meridian. Self-governing, of course, but a part of The Empire nonetheless. A taxes-for-protection arrangement, mostly.”
“Yesterday,” she continues, picking up a piece of parchment, “I received this letter, which I will now read to you. It is addressed to me, from ‘Lord Corbin Crema, son of Lord Bertrand Crema and heir to Castle Crema and its surrounding lands.’ Which is to say, Darrie.”
“He-hem. ‘Please allow me to get straight to the point, and forgive my bluntness: my father has passed. He had been ill for years, but had been rapidly declining for the past several weeks and I sat with him when he breathed his last. My stepmother, Iliana Crema, had taken on the responsibilities of the lord, ruling the castle and the villages as long as my father laid incapacitated. However, after his passing, the stewardship of the castle should fall on my shoulders, as is my birthright.’”
The Empress gives Helevisa a significant look. Provinces like these are permitted to keep all their laws, save for those that contradict Imperial Law. And Imperial Law does not speak on succession.
“‘Unfortunately,’” she continues reading, “‘My stepmother refuses to admit to his death. She has kept his body in seclusion, letting nobody see it and preventing my dear father from resting in peace. She continues to preside over the lands, claiming that he is still alive, but merely ill. Please, Empress, I beg of you to send an official inspector to Castle Crema. Officially recognize my father's passing, certify my position as lord of the castle, and allow me to inter him in the family mausoleum alongside my mother. I cannot bear the thought of allowing him to rot away in that locked bedroom for a moment longer.’ … And he’s signed it, ‘Yours faithfully, Lord Corbin Crema’”
Setting the letter aside, The Empress looks to the Marchioness.
“Hardly my favorite sort of mail to receive, but it is a manner that must be dealt with. I believe that you will be well suited to the task, so you will be traveling to Castle Crema to address this issue in my stead.”
“However,” she continues, raising one finger, “There is no assurance that any of this is fact, and it is not so easy as that to manipulate your Empress. It may be such that Corbin is a conniving bastard who aims to take advantage of Imperial power to steal the throne. It may be such that Lady Iliana is a witch, that Lord Bertrand is alive but imprisoned, or that there is no Corbin, and this all is an elaborate play to obtain a hostage for ransom.”
One palm up, The Empress offers a small shrug. She doesn’t know.
“You are being sent by The Empress to investigate, and hereby have jurisdiction to do as you please within the context of your investigation. Lay your eyes on Lord Bertrand, unless he has already been interred. The Empress would like to see her vassal laid to rest with the appropriate level of respect, and the people of Castle Crema should see it done, by her order.”
“If Bertrand is indeed dead, his successor — whoever they may be — must come to swear fealty to me here in The Citadel. ... It is worth noting: I have no categorical issue with Iliana Crema assuming control of the castle, and you are not being sent for the purpose of enforcing Corbin’s ‘birthright.’ The local law ought to apply, but above all, the next ruler of Castle Crema will be both competent and loyal to their Empress. If there is a dispute between Corbin and Iliana, I will hear the case here in The Citadel and be just in my judgment.”
“Is all of that clear enough so far?” Empress Naoki asks, one ear askew.
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Marchioness Helevisa Reinsel
New
Roleplay posts: 8
Age: 30s
Physical Description: Helevisa is a tall, slender woman with a pointed face. Her eyes are grey-blue. Her hair is long and jet-black, usually tied up to stay out of her face. Her face suggests a lack of sleep, with her eyes often underlined with dark circles that she takes great pains to hide. She takes her appearance seriously, believing it to be directly tied to her work, and is meticulous about the way she looks depending on who she is meeting.
==
Clothes and Equipment: Helevisa prefers to dress practically, usually with a long dark coat and a black knee-high pair of boots. The rest of her outfit changes on a whim, usually neutral tones with the occasional splash of red or orange. Her only accessory is a gold ring that she wears upon her ring finger that has a fire opal embedded in it. It's warm to the touch.
==
Allegiances: The Isran Empire
Registered: Dec 5, 2019 12:25:12 GMT -8
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Post by Marchioness Helevisa Reinsel on Dec 7, 2019 12:44:10 GMT -8
Helevisa sat down when motioned to, twisting the ring on her finger as she listened to the Empress’ monologue. It didn’t start interesting, with mentions of the Duchy of Darrie. Not unfamiliar, but not anywhere that Helevisa herself had been. As the letter was read aloud, she allowed her expression to become one of mild interest. A fascinating tale, but one that was going to require some elbow grease to deal with, Helevisa noted.
At the mention of birthright, however, Helevisa could already feel a headache coming on. Matters of succession in these tiny duchies were always rather pointless, and Imperial Law had little to make matters move any quicker.
Nonetheless, she returned the glance, finding herself more embroiled than she usually allowed herself to be. Her hand had stopped where it had been fiddling with her ring and she sat still for the rest of the letter.
The Empress did have a point, though. A sordid tale, but one that could quite easily be a work of fiction rather than any sort of truth. Wicked stepmothers and rightful heirs to the throne were good for stories, but in reality things tended to be much more complicated. She cleared her throat after the Empress finished, waiting for a moment to gather her thoughts before speaking.
“Clear as day, Empress,” she said coolly. “I appreciate your belief in my abilities to make sure this is dealt with quickly. I will make sure someone attends to my duties in my absence. Is there something else?”
There was always something else, wasn’t there?
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Empress Naoki
Famous
Roleplay posts: 2,238
Physical Description: =========================
Empress Naoki is a curvaceous woman of average height, indeterminate age, and catlike features. Her hair is a dark auburn, often pulled back into a long braid. Her ears are both soft and fluffy, and her tail is never less than perfectly groomed. Amber eyes glisten in the shadows cast by her hair.
Clothes and Equipment: =========================
Naoki's wardrobe is to her as a frame is to a painting. Sometimes embellished with detail to be attractive in its own right, but never the focus. Usually simple but elegant, tightly fitting and highly revealing, used only to frame the beauty within.
Additionally, Naoki is, when clothed, often adorned with a small collection of accessories. She wears an earring, a brilliant cut amethyst, in her right ear. The silver signet ring of Isra is worn on her left pinky, marking her as High Lady of Isra. Directly adjacent, she wears the golden signet ring of The Isran Empire as its Empress. On the inside of her left thigh, there is a tattoo depicting a rose entwined with tentacles.
Allegiances: The Isran Empire
Player's online availability : Excessively often. Timezone: ET (-5)
Registered: Sept 12, 2015 13:02:17 GMT -8
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Post by Empress Naoki on Dec 8, 2019 20:34:10 GMT -8
“I don’t believe so,” The Empress supposes, eyes skimming over the contents of the letter.
“You have time to prepare, perhaps you depart tomorrow morning. I received this letter yesterday and haven’t sent word back; you’ll be arriving unannounced. Though you should take a few messenger beetles, and send me updates as appropriate.”
Folding the letter neatly into thirds, Empress Naoki places it into her “out” pile, to be filed away.
“If you have no questions, I have nothing else to tell you. I thank you for your service, Marchioness, and wish you safe travels.” With a curt nod of the head, The Empress dismisses Helevisa.
When Helevisa is about halfway to the door, Naoki pipes up again. “And be careful,” she orders. “Something about this strikes me as off.”
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Empress Naoki
Famous
Roleplay posts: 2,238
Physical Description: =========================
Empress Naoki is a curvaceous woman of average height, indeterminate age, and catlike features. Her hair is a dark auburn, often pulled back into a long braid. Her ears are both soft and fluffy, and her tail is never less than perfectly groomed. Amber eyes glisten in the shadows cast by her hair.
Clothes and Equipment: =========================
Naoki's wardrobe is to her as a frame is to a painting. Sometimes embellished with detail to be attractive in its own right, but never the focus. Usually simple but elegant, tightly fitting and highly revealing, used only to frame the beauty within.
Additionally, Naoki is, when clothed, often adorned with a small collection of accessories. She wears an earring, a brilliant cut amethyst, in her right ear. The silver signet ring of Isra is worn on her left pinky, marking her as High Lady of Isra. Directly adjacent, she wears the golden signet ring of The Isran Empire as its Empress. On the inside of her left thigh, there is a tattoo depicting a rose entwined with tentacles.
Allegiances: The Isran Empire
Player's online availability : Excessively often. Timezone: ET (-5)
Registered: Sept 12, 2015 13:02:17 GMT -8
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Post by Empress Naoki on Jan 24, 2020 20:20:30 GMT -8
“And your name?” “Simon Telmont, your highness.” He moves to stand at attention, but lacks his weapon. The Empress nods, making note. “And you survived.” This is stated as fact. The Empress looks at him over the desk and Simon swallows. Is he in trouble for that, or-- “I wish to hear about the attack,” she continues. “Tell me about it. Take your time, and try not to sweat so much that it drips on the floor.” This prompts Simon to glow red with embarrassment and sweat even more heavily, but he launches into his story. “We were.. We were escorting the carriage, we always do, winding through the mountain passes, as you do…” The Empress listens carefully, eyes and ears forward to follow the narrative as he tells it. Simon finds her scrutiny to be terribly uncomfortable but continues his tale. “...And I said it didn’t sound like no wolf, because I’ve heard wolves and…” “...and the bolts just bounced right off…” “… and it bellowed: ’Surrender the gold!’...” “...then snapped it like it was a wee twig!” Simon goes on for some time but eventually comes to the end, “And then it flapped a great big flap with its wings and took the entire carriage, horses and all!” He pantomimes the flapping of wings for effect. The Empress murmurs acknowledgment. Putting a hand to her chin, she considers the matter. This is a new problem. In all her time, she has never heard of any green dragons in the Norkari mountains -- intelligent or otherwise. That means this one is either recently awoken or juvenile, and it didn’t sound very juvenile. Lust for gold is common amongst dragons and requires no further explanation. But, she notes it was clever enough not only to selectively attack the tax carraige, but to attack on open ground, when the carriage was stopped, and do so at night, as to avoid Dawn Rider patrols. This attack was planned; it would be fair to call it a heist, even. Taxes from the north only come in every quarter or so, on an irregular but not entirely unpredictable schedule. The next one won’t be for a few months, so depending on how often the dragon feeds, it may or may not leave its cave for some time. Alternatively, it may grow bolder and strike out further. Taxes arrive in Isra from all of her territories, and they’re all in more or less the same carriages. If it ventures any further out of the mountains it risks running into more patrols, but it would know that and plan accordingly. There’s the matter of the endurance necessary to haul a carriage full of gold all the way back to the mountains from whatever road it is plucked from, but Naoki doesn’t overthink it any further than that. This is a problem. A great big green, building-size, fire-breathing, heavily armored problem, that possesses human-like intelligence and also flies. “ Hmmh.” The Empress shifts in her chair to lean on the other side. Simon fidgets. “Oh!” She remembers him and sits up. “Yes, yes, thank you Simon, that was very good. You serve The Empire well.” He beams. “You’re to take the next two weeks off and receive a bonus of, perhaps… 250 gold. Remain in the city until further notice. Dismissed.” She waves him away. Simon sputters his thanks, salutes, and makes for the door. With him gone, Naoki resumes her thought: a big green scaly problem... The first step is to post a notice. Something to the effect of “A dragon has been sighted in the Norkari mountains. Travelers are advised not to travel north with large quantities of gold or other valuables.” The people don’t need to know that an entire carriage’s worth of taxes were stolen, but perhaps such a notice will save some lives. The second step is increased patrols. More Dawn Riders near the mountains, especially at night, and watchtowers are to be on the lookout for shapes in the sky. Perhaps there’s some manner of trinket or potion to see better in the night. Maybe she’ll ask Daedalus about that at their meeting next week. The third step… The third step would usually be to hunt it. Hunting dragons is part of The Dawn Riders’ heritage and there are dozens upon dozens of freelancers who have dedicated their lives to the pursuit. If she were to coordinate a focused, combined arms effort and leverage The Empire’s full might, she could hunt down and kill this dragon, and potentially gain the riches of its hoard. She’s been meaning to involve herself in more conflict and try out some of her new toys, and there are many who would enjoy such a hunt, herself potentially included. She could.But that would be effort, and that would be expensive. The lives of her people are infinitely more valuable than satiating bloodlust or flaunting her might. The dragon has not done enough to warrant such a response, and it would be poor form to send so many freelancers to their doom. (She still feels bad about the last time she did that.) No. Naoki shakes her head. If the dragon is so clever as all that and has decency enough to spare lives, she will attempt to liaise with it. The Fair Empress Naoki has a reputation to uphold and there is less to be lost in trying. If it won’t negotiate, at least she will have tried. But how to do so...? It only takes The Empress a moment to decide. “Send for Consul Finch.”
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Empress Naoki
Famous
Roleplay posts: 2,238
Physical Description: =========================
Empress Naoki is a curvaceous woman of average height, indeterminate age, and catlike features. Her hair is a dark auburn, often pulled back into a long braid. Her ears are both soft and fluffy, and her tail is never less than perfectly groomed. Amber eyes glisten in the shadows cast by her hair.
Clothes and Equipment: =========================
Naoki's wardrobe is to her as a frame is to a painting. Sometimes embellished with detail to be attractive in its own right, but never the focus. Usually simple but elegant, tightly fitting and highly revealing, used only to frame the beauty within.
Additionally, Naoki is, when clothed, often adorned with a small collection of accessories. She wears an earring, a brilliant cut amethyst, in her right ear. The silver signet ring of Isra is worn on her left pinky, marking her as High Lady of Isra. Directly adjacent, she wears the golden signet ring of The Isran Empire as its Empress. On the inside of her left thigh, there is a tattoo depicting a rose entwined with tentacles.
Allegiances: The Isran Empire
Player's online availability : Excessively often. Timezone: ET (-5)
Registered: Sept 12, 2015 13:02:17 GMT -8
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Post by Empress Naoki on Jan 26, 2020 18:40:04 GMT -8
“Your next appointment, your highness.”
As is customary, the page delivers to The Empress the dossier of her next visitor. It would be a loss of face for her not to remember
But this is not a regular dossier, Naoki notices, taking the scroll. This is stamped not with the symbol of the Archives, but that of The Sun Marshals, and sealed shut with their 'exceptional' wax.
The pageboy takes his leave, and the wax dissolves upon The Empress’s touch. Unrolling the scroll across her desk, Naoki looks at the name.
Fiona Blythe
Naoki squints. The scroll confirms what she remembered: this is the prostitute/thief she recruited with Alden some weeks previous at The Starlight Dawn. It says here that she has been submitting reports regularly and that she has distinguished herself as a valuable asset by enabling several “arrests.”
After spending a few moments to read the details, Naoki carefully rerolls the scroll and deposits it inside her desk. Why is Miss Blythe coming to visit her, she wonders? She has no business in this office and knows full well where she ought to be submitting her reports. Perhaps she has some issue she feels too sensitive to entrust to paper or wishes to ask a favor. This isn’t the appropriate channel, but Naoki decides that The Empress will humor her regardless.
“Send her in.”
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Fiona Blythe
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 107
Age: 25
Physical Description: ==================================================
Quite attractive, which is quite the benefit of her public profession. High cheek bones, a sharp jawline and thin nose, soft cheeks, and a stunning outlook about her.
Her eyes are a warm green, and her skin on the paler side, but it is hard to tell if it's natural or just well applied makeup until closer inspection. Her hair drops down past her shoulders, and a dark, aged timber brown.
Catching one's eye is her goal, afterall.
She is of medium height and wonderfully maintained build, toned but soft where it matters.
Clothes and Equipment: ==================================================
In public, she can be seen wearing expensive dresses, low cut at the front, and perfectly tailored. As well as her modest jewellery, she wears a specific broach worn by those of her profession, the silver dove of the working women's union, a group of independant whores and escorts.
During her more clandestine dealings however, she wears an incognito set of clothes, featuring a tight pair of dark green greaves, soft and comfy boots that reach up her shins, a basic white shirt, a dark red vest with a handful of pockets, and a dark green hooded cloak that matches her greaves. On top of this, she wears a belt with plenty of pouches to carry her tools of the trade. Finally, a dark maroon scarf is worn over her pale features to hide her identity.
For weaponry, she carries a pair of knives, hidden away for her own protection, however she has also been seen with a seemingly basic bow from time to time. On her belt, however, she hides a small hand-crossbow, and just enough bolts to get her out of a tight spot.
Her tool belt contains many tricks of the trade, including lockpicks, a glass cutter, smoke bombs for a quick get away, and even a handful of stink bombs.
Registered: Jan 12, 2019 23:02:23 GMT -8
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Post by Fiona Blythe on Jan 26, 2020 19:08:18 GMT -8
Fiona had been standing outside, anxiously waiting to see if she can be seen, and finally the doors are opened for her. She stands and takes a moment to make sure she’s presentable, and considering the effort she’s made to look more stunning than usual she looks far more than presentable, she picks up a satchel and heads inside.
Once inside, she bows deeply to the empress and gives her her very best smile. “Your Grace,” she says, her voice warm and velvety, really putting in the effort today. “I know I may be overstepping my boundaries, but… I have a few things I wish to discuss with you, of a private nature. One which involves my work so far which I'd consider more important, and the other… is more of a personal thing.”
She settles herself and smiles once again. "If I may speak freely, of course?"
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Empress Naoki
Famous
Roleplay posts: 2,238
Physical Description: =========================
Empress Naoki is a curvaceous woman of average height, indeterminate age, and catlike features. Her hair is a dark auburn, often pulled back into a long braid. Her ears are both soft and fluffy, and her tail is never less than perfectly groomed. Amber eyes glisten in the shadows cast by her hair.
Clothes and Equipment: =========================
Naoki's wardrobe is to her as a frame is to a painting. Sometimes embellished with detail to be attractive in its own right, but never the focus. Usually simple but elegant, tightly fitting and highly revealing, used only to frame the beauty within.
Additionally, Naoki is, when clothed, often adorned with a small collection of accessories. She wears an earring, a brilliant cut amethyst, in her right ear. The silver signet ring of Isra is worn on her left pinky, marking her as High Lady of Isra. Directly adjacent, she wears the golden signet ring of The Isran Empire as its Empress. On the inside of her left thigh, there is a tattoo depicting a rose entwined with tentacles.
Allegiances: The Isran Empire
Player's online availability : Excessively often. Timezone: ET (-5)
Registered: Sept 12, 2015 13:02:17 GMT -8
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Post by Empress Naoki on Jan 28, 2020 11:16:38 GMT -8
The Empress sits with her hands folded before her on the desk as Miss Blythe enters the room and bows. She listens, nods, and gestures for her guest to take a seat.
“The appropriate channel for the work you do is, of course, the High Marshal, to save me the step of relaying information to him. If you feel the need to speak directly to me as opposed to my most trusted Lieutenant... you may, seeing as how you’re already here.”
She gestures for Fiona to proceed.
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Fiona Blythe
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 107
Age: 25
Physical Description: ==================================================
Quite attractive, which is quite the benefit of her public profession. High cheek bones, a sharp jawline and thin nose, soft cheeks, and a stunning outlook about her.
Her eyes are a warm green, and her skin on the paler side, but it is hard to tell if it's natural or just well applied makeup until closer inspection. Her hair drops down past her shoulders, and a dark, aged timber brown.
Catching one's eye is her goal, afterall.
She is of medium height and wonderfully maintained build, toned but soft where it matters.
Clothes and Equipment: ==================================================
In public, she can be seen wearing expensive dresses, low cut at the front, and perfectly tailored. As well as her modest jewellery, she wears a specific broach worn by those of her profession, the silver dove of the working women's union, a group of independant whores and escorts.
During her more clandestine dealings however, she wears an incognito set of clothes, featuring a tight pair of dark green greaves, soft and comfy boots that reach up her shins, a basic white shirt, a dark red vest with a handful of pockets, and a dark green hooded cloak that matches her greaves. On top of this, she wears a belt with plenty of pouches to carry her tools of the trade. Finally, a dark maroon scarf is worn over her pale features to hide her identity.
For weaponry, she carries a pair of knives, hidden away for her own protection, however she has also been seen with a seemingly basic bow from time to time. On her belt, however, she hides a small hand-crossbow, and just enough bolts to get her out of a tight spot.
Her tool belt contains many tricks of the trade, including lockpicks, a glass cutter, smoke bombs for a quick get away, and even a handful of stink bombs.
Registered: Jan 12, 2019 23:02:23 GMT -8
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Post by Fiona Blythe on Jan 28, 2020 17:19:25 GMT -8
Fiona nods and slips into the seat offered and crosses one leg over the other in her usual fashion. Hm… the chairs aren’t as comfy as she had previously thought. Then again, the Empress never has to sit in these ones, so why would they be as comfy?
“I wouldn’t bother you if I didn’t think it was important,” Fiona says after shifting in her seat to find a nice groove. “It's all detailed in my report which I am handing in to the Marshalls’ office, of course. Something about this one seems… very off.”
“As I’m sure you are aware, I’ve been doing my duty to you and the state with great success. I’ve embedded myself in the local black markets, as requested, and I’ve… I suppose been bait? In several arrests, though I prefer the team ‘spearheaded’. I’ve reported any other findings via the correct channels on anyone I’m not sure about moving on just yet, as well.”
The woman clears her throat before continuing. “Most of the caches I find while I’m doing what I do best are traceable, usually after some work and a little sweet talking. Drugs out of Vessia, contraband out of Toragana, that sort of thing. There is one such cache that I could not even open, let alone trace, and during my investigation and eaves dropping… well, the only information I could find is that ‘the sender has a fine eye for the profane.’ The speaker was shushed soon after, so I’m almost certain that it means something, and considering what most would consider profane, its something I should bring to your attention directly. Call it a thief’s intuition.” Considering her skills as a thief and how she hasn’t technically been caught thus far, it might mean a little something, or at least she hopes.
The woman lets out a small breath, having finally gotten that off her chest. “Unfortunately that’s all I could find. Whatever it is, those involved are playing their cards very close to their chest, but I’ve marked the location of said cache for the Marshalls to find and dispose of safely, if it hasn’t been moved already.”
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Empress Naoki
Famous
Roleplay posts: 2,238
Physical Description: =========================
Empress Naoki is a curvaceous woman of average height, indeterminate age, and catlike features. Her hair is a dark auburn, often pulled back into a long braid. Her ears are both soft and fluffy, and her tail is never less than perfectly groomed. Amber eyes glisten in the shadows cast by her hair.
Clothes and Equipment: =========================
Naoki's wardrobe is to her as a frame is to a painting. Sometimes embellished with detail to be attractive in its own right, but never the focus. Usually simple but elegant, tightly fitting and highly revealing, used only to frame the beauty within.
Additionally, Naoki is, when clothed, often adorned with a small collection of accessories. She wears an earring, a brilliant cut amethyst, in her right ear. The silver signet ring of Isra is worn on her left pinky, marking her as High Lady of Isra. Directly adjacent, she wears the golden signet ring of The Isran Empire as its Empress. On the inside of her left thigh, there is a tattoo depicting a rose entwined with tentacles.
Allegiances: The Isran Empire
Player's online availability : Excessively often. Timezone: ET (-5)
Registered: Sept 12, 2015 13:02:17 GMT -8
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Post by Empress Naoki on Jan 28, 2020 22:44:28 GMT -8
Empress Naoki hums in contemplation. “Well, the profane isn’t very good, is it?...”
She considers this information for a lengthy moment and then nods. “Very well. Now that you’ve reported it, other agents will be informed to listen for similar phrases. I will see about having this cache retrieved and investigated immediately -- our mages may be able to do something with it. … And make sure to give descriptions of the group and keep your eyes open in the event you reencounter them. If we can track any of them down, it won’t be much trouble to find out what they’re up to.”
(In the event that one were to wonder if Naoki is alluding to Disappearing one or more of those poor saps based only on Fiona’s word, know that indeed she is.)
“And I’ll keep my ears open, as well,” she adds, waggling them for effect.
“Was that the item that involved your work?”
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Fiona Blythe
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 107
Age: 25
Physical Description: ==================================================
Quite attractive, which is quite the benefit of her public profession. High cheek bones, a sharp jawline and thin nose, soft cheeks, and a stunning outlook about her.
Her eyes are a warm green, and her skin on the paler side, but it is hard to tell if it's natural or just well applied makeup until closer inspection. Her hair drops down past her shoulders, and a dark, aged timber brown.
Catching one's eye is her goal, afterall.
She is of medium height and wonderfully maintained build, toned but soft where it matters.
Clothes and Equipment: ==================================================
In public, she can be seen wearing expensive dresses, low cut at the front, and perfectly tailored. As well as her modest jewellery, she wears a specific broach worn by those of her profession, the silver dove of the working women's union, a group of independant whores and escorts.
During her more clandestine dealings however, she wears an incognito set of clothes, featuring a tight pair of dark green greaves, soft and comfy boots that reach up her shins, a basic white shirt, a dark red vest with a handful of pockets, and a dark green hooded cloak that matches her greaves. On top of this, she wears a belt with plenty of pouches to carry her tools of the trade. Finally, a dark maroon scarf is worn over her pale features to hide her identity.
For weaponry, she carries a pair of knives, hidden away for her own protection, however she has also been seen with a seemingly basic bow from time to time. On her belt, however, she hides a small hand-crossbow, and just enough bolts to get her out of a tight spot.
Her tool belt contains many tricks of the trade, including lockpicks, a glass cutter, smoke bombs for a quick get away, and even a handful of stink bombs.
Registered: Jan 12, 2019 23:02:23 GMT -8
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Post by Fiona Blythe on Jan 28, 2020 23:46:15 GMT -8
Fiona nods in acknowledgement. “Yes, your grace,” she says. “I’ll add as much of a description as I can. From what I can tell, they’re regular marketeers in these circles, so they may already be known to some of your other agents. If they don’t know much about these profane items, they’ll know something else, I’m certain.” Her intuition had not steered her wrong yet, and if the voices matched the merchants, which she’s certain of, they are indeed very bad men doing very bad things. Fiona actually feels proud of her work for the right reasons for once.
She lets out a small huff of amusement at Naoki wiggling her ears, then she nods. “Yes, that was the item that involved my work.” She leans over the side of the chair and pulls up her satchel. “The other item is a personal item, or… perhaps a business one, that can be beneficial to my work, and by extension Isran intelligence, as well as making all of us quite a bit of coin. Legitimately.”
The courtesan opens the satchel and pulls out a series of booklets and parchments. The largest one, she places gently on the table. “We will be calling it the Violet Star,” she says as she sits back. “In summary, a good friend of mine, the madam of the Sapphire Mask brothel. She’s the… colour type. Keeping with tradition in names, as you can probably tell.” She lifts another parchment and hands it over, revealing it to be a blueprint. “We’re in negotiations with a building in the wealthy quarter, and considering both of our expertise, and the roster of interested independants, we’ll likely be making very good coin.”
The booklet is quite a well presented and well written business plan, as well as the roster which features some of the more notable independent courtesans, Fiona included.
She sits back once more and crosses her legs once again. “How this will affect my current work for the state is simple. People talk when you have them in the throes of passion, without even realising it. The girls gather that information, they give it to me, I take it up the chain. What you or the state does with said information is none of my business, be it blackmail, insider trading, that sort of thing. All of the women on our roster are on board, and you’ll have to trust me on their reliability on squeezing their clients for information. They’re… quite effective.”
A warm, charismatic smile crosses her ruby red lips. “What we would like, however, is another investor. The money to be made would attract anyone to such a business, but the potential for information is why I’m bringing it to you. That and the offer of things such as discounts, free call-outs, and so forth.”
“You would, of course, be a silent investor,” she confirms. “Your name and the connection to the business won’t even exist in our official books. Its nobody’s business but our own, after all.”
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Empress Naoki
Famous
Roleplay posts: 2,238
Physical Description: =========================
Empress Naoki is a curvaceous woman of average height, indeterminate age, and catlike features. Her hair is a dark auburn, often pulled back into a long braid. Her ears are both soft and fluffy, and her tail is never less than perfectly groomed. Amber eyes glisten in the shadows cast by her hair.
Clothes and Equipment: =========================
Naoki's wardrobe is to her as a frame is to a painting. Sometimes embellished with detail to be attractive in its own right, but never the focus. Usually simple but elegant, tightly fitting and highly revealing, used only to frame the beauty within.
Additionally, Naoki is, when clothed, often adorned with a small collection of accessories. She wears an earring, a brilliant cut amethyst, in her right ear. The silver signet ring of Isra is worn on her left pinky, marking her as High Lady of Isra. Directly adjacent, she wears the golden signet ring of The Isran Empire as its Empress. On the inside of her left thigh, there is a tattoo depicting a rose entwined with tentacles.
Allegiances: The Isran Empire
Player's online availability : Excessively often. Timezone: ET (-5)
Registered: Sept 12, 2015 13:02:17 GMT -8
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Post by Empress Naoki on Jan 30, 2020 18:57:29 GMT -8
“Oh, I’m sure they’re very good at squeezing...” Naoki quips as she flips through the booklet. The names on the roster mean little to her for obvious reasons, but whoever put this together has obviously run a business before. Most of these estimations seem correct, and there are provisions laid out here for the things one doesn’t consider during their first rodeo. No matter how much experience Fiona might have in other fields, Naoki would in no circumstance trust her alone with a business of such scale and ambition. The fact that she has a partner who already knows success makes the proposition plausible.
Part of her doubts how much actionable intel such a venture could gather. Gossip, certainly, but Fiona must be either playing up or overestimating how useful this will be to Isran intelligence. She’s doing it for the money, tying it to her role as an informant is just a means to that end in order to secure the support she needs. Fiona talks as if she has other options, but the only way that this happens is with The Empress’s approval, and they both know that. The question is, will she give it?
Naoki looks up from the blueprint to Fiona’s eyes. The ambition is there, that much is clear. She’s unsatisfied with what she has, and if this plan doesn’t work out, she will try something else. … The next thing may not be as sound of a business plan.
“Very well,” Empress Naoki acquiesces. “I will support your venture, conditionally.”
Usually this is when she would start putting things to paper, but in this case Naoki merley mimics the motion of writing and mouths numbers aloud.
After a long pause, she settles on the terms.
“I will grant you 150,000 of my gold to be used for the Violet Star, as is detailed here in your plan.” Naoki slides the closed booklet back across the desk.
“You will create quarterly copies of all financial records, including itemized receipts for all clients, and provide them to my agents when prompted, along with 18% of the net revenue, in gold, also quarterly.”
“We will both pretend that you did not insult me by offering a ‘discount’. ... Rather, you will remember who you are speaking to. If The Empress deigns to grace your establishment with her business, you will be honored and compensated fairly.”
“Additionally, the business will have a greater degree of ease in filing official paperwork, inspections, taxes, and the like.” A vague hand gesture doesn’t say that it will be permitted to bend the law, without repercussions but it also doesn’t not say that.
“And,” Naoki continues, clearing the other papers from her desk, “As the final term of the agreement, you will rest your cheek here, upon the desk, and remain there until I see fit to dismiss you.” The portion of the desk Naoki taps is immediately in front of her, on the far side from Fiona. All of this is delivered the same curt, businesslike tone The Empress uses for such matters, deadpan and entirely serious.
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Fiona Blythe
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 107
Age: 25
Physical Description: ==================================================
Quite attractive, which is quite the benefit of her public profession. High cheek bones, a sharp jawline and thin nose, soft cheeks, and a stunning outlook about her.
Her eyes are a warm green, and her skin on the paler side, but it is hard to tell if it's natural or just well applied makeup until closer inspection. Her hair drops down past her shoulders, and a dark, aged timber brown.
Catching one's eye is her goal, afterall.
She is of medium height and wonderfully maintained build, toned but soft where it matters.
Clothes and Equipment: ==================================================
In public, she can be seen wearing expensive dresses, low cut at the front, and perfectly tailored. As well as her modest jewellery, she wears a specific broach worn by those of her profession, the silver dove of the working women's union, a group of independant whores and escorts.
During her more clandestine dealings however, she wears an incognito set of clothes, featuring a tight pair of dark green greaves, soft and comfy boots that reach up her shins, a basic white shirt, a dark red vest with a handful of pockets, and a dark green hooded cloak that matches her greaves. On top of this, she wears a belt with plenty of pouches to carry her tools of the trade. Finally, a dark maroon scarf is worn over her pale features to hide her identity.
For weaponry, she carries a pair of knives, hidden away for her own protection, however she has also been seen with a seemingly basic bow from time to time. On her belt, however, she hides a small hand-crossbow, and just enough bolts to get her out of a tight spot.
Her tool belt contains many tricks of the trade, including lockpicks, a glass cutter, smoke bombs for a quick get away, and even a handful of stink bombs.
Registered: Jan 12, 2019 23:02:23 GMT -8
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Post by Fiona Blythe on Jan 30, 2020 19:24:56 GMT -8
Fiona bites her lip in excitement as the Empress reads through the booklet she and her business partner had written up. Well, mostly the business partner, Fiona was far more used to the single-person business side of such things, not so much a whole building and staff. Ironically, she even pays her own taxes, and accurately!
Ambition did indeed burn in her eyes, but if Naoki is to assume she’d get up to no good if this venture is to fail, she would be wrong. Fiona would get up to no good regardless of this venture’s success or failure. For Fiona, this is more a business venture that would help her towards her retirement goal further down the track, especially now that her life was in the hands of someone other than herself now. The guaranteed income was needed now more than ever.
Selling information, well that’s just a bonus.
Her face brightens when Naoki speaks of investing, making her feel all giddy inside, but the mention of conditions make that flutter inside die down just a little. She doesn’t quite understand why, she had expected such a response. However, her confidence grows with each condition. They’d get the money they need, and they would have to write up the paperwork that she had already planned on doing, and her cut is a whole two percent lower than anticipated! Score!
The mention of the discount brings a red flare to her pale cheeks and her smile falters. To be fair, that offer would have been made to any outside investors, but she hadn’t taken into account the Empress’ pride. “I… don’t recall mentioning a discount. Perhaps I misspoke,” she says, playing along. She never said anything of the sort, no way.
She clears her throat of the embarrassment. “We will appreciate the ease, but we endeavour to stay completely above board, your grace,” she says, the red flare dissipating. “My staff and partner are not accustomed to my… other line of work, I won’t have them subjected to it or any resulting punishments by cutting corners. The tax collectors and the law will have their gold and paperwork, as they would from anyone else.” She’d make absolutely sure of it. By going into business with these women, Fiona is putting them at considerable risk and she knows it. They deserved the extra care.
That last condition is met with a blink of confusion. Well, this is...different. She remains seated for a moment, a little shocked at the unexpected demand. Considering her line of work, she has a vague idea of what the empress may be implying, but she doesn’t get her hopes up. Instead, she merely stands, gracefully walks to the desk, and gently bends over it, making sure to linger at just the right moment for the empress to get a good view down the front of her dress, then she rests her cheek in the indicated spot, unsure about what to expect.
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Empress Naoki
Famous
Roleplay posts: 2,238
Physical Description: =========================
Empress Naoki is a curvaceous woman of average height, indeterminate age, and catlike features. Her hair is a dark auburn, often pulled back into a long braid. Her ears are both soft and fluffy, and her tail is never less than perfectly groomed. Amber eyes glisten in the shadows cast by her hair.
Clothes and Equipment: =========================
Naoki's wardrobe is to her as a frame is to a painting. Sometimes embellished with detail to be attractive in its own right, but never the focus. Usually simple but elegant, tightly fitting and highly revealing, used only to frame the beauty within.
Additionally, Naoki is, when clothed, often adorned with a small collection of accessories. She wears an earring, a brilliant cut amethyst, in her right ear. The silver signet ring of Isra is worn on her left pinky, marking her as High Lady of Isra. Directly adjacent, she wears the golden signet ring of The Isran Empire as its Empress. On the inside of her left thigh, there is a tattoo depicting a rose entwined with tentacles.
Allegiances: The Isran Empire
Player's online availability : Excessively often. Timezone: ET (-5)
Registered: Sept 12, 2015 13:02:17 GMT -8
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Post by Empress Naoki on Jan 30, 2020 23:25:36 GMT -8
Watching Fiona bend over for her, Empress Naoki claps her hands together and smirks a most devious smirk. “Excellent.”
When she stands, the room immediately feels thirty freedom degrees warmer.
“You see, I have another appointment in a few hours,” Empress Naoki explains, circling around the desk, “So I only have time for something quick.”
Once standing behind Fiona, Naoki wastes no time in flipping up the other's dress. It’s very nice and all, but it’s in the way. Taking Fiona’s arms, Naoki brings them around behind her back and holds them there with one hand. Her other hand goes to Fiona’s head, first to run her fingers through her hair, then to hold Fiona's skull down against the table. Both hands are warm, unnaturally so.
Fiona ought to see where things are going at this point, and indeed, there it is. Gently at first, but only part-way before pausing. “You usually see only one client at a time, yes?”
There's a momentary pause, then there’s a second (!) one, atop the first.
“...You will enjoy this,” Naoki promises.
And indeed, copious and perhaps even excessive use of lust magic would see to it that Fiona enjoys it quite a bit. An experience unlike any she may have had previously with any singularly-endowed individual, augmented by skillful application of the same variety of magic that make incubus so terribly good at what they do. Among the revelations of the day are the facts that the desk is bolted down, the office is sound-proofed, and Empress Naoki has a domineering bent. (Who would have guessed?)
In the end, The Empress ended up being late to her appointment. She said that it took longer than expected to see that the terms of a negotiation were "properly filled".
Fiona ought to think that a sum of 150,000 gold is fair compensation for her work, and would find the rest of the terms of her verbal agreement with The Empress to be carried out exactly as promised.
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Torrin Delmirev
Established
Roleplay posts: 21
Age: 31
Physical Description: This silvery dragonborn is truly massive to behold, at nearly eight feet tall with bulging muscles and some well-groomed scales. He keeps his teeth shiny white, and polishes his scales regularly. He usually smells of mint, and is completely cold to the touch.
Clothes and Equipment: Torrin keeps his armor as clean as his scales, and it is even a matching grey color. His armor is thick and heavy, limiting his speed in running, but making him all but impervious to most weaponry. He wields a fairly wicked looking sword, both ceremonial and functional amongst his people, as well as shield emblazoned with a silver dragon on it in honor of his ancestors.
Registered: Feb 17, 2017 16:12:58 GMT -8
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Post by Torrin Delmirev on Feb 22, 2020 16:24:44 GMT -8
Torrin had not thought that protecting the most powerful woman in the free world would be as decidedly boring a job as it was. Sure, the "perks" were excellent and the job paid well, but Naoki had enough layers of physical security that it almost... almost made his job redundant. Still, he took it seriously, and a half dozen sentinels (including him) stood watch around the room. He gazed out one if the windows and noted something felt...off. He wasn't quite sure what it was but something in the city below felt wrong.
His claws reached down and loosened the sword in its scabbard, a motion that caught the eye of the other sentinels. He couldn't explain it, but that feeling had never been wrong before. Bad idea to start a panic until he knew what it was though.
"Send a Guard down to the Gate to get a status update on the City." He ordered, another Dragonborn saluting and opening the door to give the order.
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Empress Naoki
Famous
Roleplay posts: 2,238
Physical Description: =========================
Empress Naoki is a curvaceous woman of average height, indeterminate age, and catlike features. Her hair is a dark auburn, often pulled back into a long braid. Her ears are both soft and fluffy, and her tail is never less than perfectly groomed. Amber eyes glisten in the shadows cast by her hair.
Clothes and Equipment: =========================
Naoki's wardrobe is to her as a frame is to a painting. Sometimes embellished with detail to be attractive in its own right, but never the focus. Usually simple but elegant, tightly fitting and highly revealing, used only to frame the beauty within.
Additionally, Naoki is, when clothed, often adorned with a small collection of accessories. She wears an earring, a brilliant cut amethyst, in her right ear. The silver signet ring of Isra is worn on her left pinky, marking her as High Lady of Isra. Directly adjacent, she wears the golden signet ring of The Isran Empire as its Empress. On the inside of her left thigh, there is a tattoo depicting a rose entwined with tentacles.
Allegiances: The Isran Empire
Player's online availability : Excessively often. Timezone: ET (-5)
Registered: Sept 12, 2015 13:02:17 GMT -8
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Post by Empress Naoki on Mar 7, 2020 17:47:25 GMT -8
“No.” The Empress overrides the order. She knows what’s happening — sort of.
“Seal the door,” she commands. “We’re under attack.”
Sitting pensively in her chair, The Empress’s expression is one of simmering anger, and her earring glimmers nearly as aggressively. This is it. It’s happening, as she was told it would. Reports are coming in from across the city: rioting. A subset of the population has gone mad. The Guard is trying, but ultimately unequipped, and now there’s something going on at the Citadel Gate — someone is breaking in.
Her actions in this moment dictate the course of history, but there’s not enough time to plan or sit pensively and internally monologue.
“Stand around the desk,” The Empress orders, tone urgent. Reaching up to take out her earring, Naoki tugs once, twice, to pry the gemstone from its setting and casts the metal aside into a desk drawer. The gem, meanwhile, goes into her mouth, and a moment later, down her throat without a moment’s hesitation. Can’t have it glimmering.
Looking to Torrin, she speaks silently to confirm it still works: “The Legion stays put until it’s time to retake control. Accept orders only in this manner.”
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Torrin Delmirev
Established
Roleplay posts: 21
Age: 31
Physical Description: This silvery dragonborn is truly massive to behold, at nearly eight feet tall with bulging muscles and some well-groomed scales. He keeps his teeth shiny white, and polishes his scales regularly. He usually smells of mint, and is completely cold to the touch.
Clothes and Equipment: Torrin keeps his armor as clean as his scales, and it is even a matching grey color. His armor is thick and heavy, limiting his speed in running, but making him all but impervious to most weaponry. He wields a fairly wicked looking sword, both ceremonial and functional amongst his people, as well as shield emblazoned with a silver dragon on it in honor of his ancestors.
Registered: Feb 17, 2017 16:12:58 GMT -8
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Post by Torrin Delmirev on Mar 12, 2020 14:49:29 GMT -8
The two sentinels at the door slammed it shut, sliding a heavy iron bar across it. Three runes on the bar were pressed in a particular order, creating a runic ward about the door that would resist any magical attempt to enter the room.
Torrin took the point position in front of Naoki, the remaining Sentinels forming to his flanks.
"Yes Empress." He replied, making no sound and awaiting whatever would come. The Sentinels were professionals, they didn't need a fancy speech to encourage them to do their jobs.
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Ulfang von Haren
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 181
Age: 82
Physical Description: -------------------------------
Ulfang is a bear of a man. He towers over most he meets, and his figure is muscular and powerful, wonderfully preserved despite his age. He has been the head of House Von Haren for over sixty years. While he lacks the immortality of a vampire, he has been able to sustain his health and vitality seemingly indefinitely through his study of the black arts. His hair is snow white and grown long, complemented by a short white beard curved about his jaw. He has a strong jawline and intensely arched eyebrows, as well as one deep, piercing pale yellow right eye. His other eye is milky white, presumably blind, but this only adds to his intimidating visage. His body is covered with scars, material evidence of an existence filled with battle and hardship. He has a deep, strong voice, the sound of which is enough to scare the life out of the living.
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Clothes and Equipment: When in battle, he wears heavy, ornate black plate armour, the shoulders of which are sculpted into the shape of ravens with bizarrely glowing green eyes. The fingertips of the gauntlets have been forged and sharpened into bladed points, to be used as tertiary weaponry should he lose both of his blades. His primary weapon is a cursed, broad greatsword named "Fang", which draws the very life from the enemies it fells and feeds their souls to its master. His secondary weapon is a mundane steel arming sword, used primarily in close quarters. Outside of battle, he generally wears a heavy hide-and-fur overcoat over a thick leather jerkin, complimented by black trousers and heavy black boots.
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Registered: Jun 27, 2015 11:08:07 GMT -8
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Post by Ulfang von Haren on Apr 20, 2020 21:32:12 GMT -8
In addition to the unnatural and terrifying rift in space-time that's torn itself open above the Citadel, a thick cyclonic unkindness of ravens has taken to circling the Citadel keep. It avoids the tear itself, but the ravens perch everywhere, dull greenish eyes peering in windows and black beaks pecking at doors before flapping off to search elsewhere. One perches at the windowsill, and its head cocks this way and that as its eye cants toward the inhabitants within before it, too, flies off back into the twirling formation of curious birds.
About a minute later, a heavy knock comes at the door, delivered by what must be a fist of gargantuan proportions. A familiar deep baritone, muffled by the wood and magical barrier between the room and the hallway, nevertheless penetrates the portal.
"Lady Naoki," rumbles the King of the Black Vale's voice, "I've come to reinforce your guard. If you would allow me entry, I've brought five Dread Knights and myself to bolster your personal defences. Others are in the process of clearing the Citadel; sixteen eskadron equaling eighty men in total."
"I cannot be sure, but it is likely that the riots are a diversionary tactic meant to pull resources away from the Citadel and leave you vulnerable. I would also recommend barricading up the windows that you've turned your back toward."
His tone makes it clear that he finds the sentinels' vigilance lacking for not having thought of that entry point to begin with.
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Greed of the Set
New
Roleplay posts: 7
Age: Unknown
Registered: Feb 22, 2020 11:24:42 GMT -8
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Post by Greed of the Set on Jun 1, 2020 21:39:43 GMT -8
Ulfang’s attempt at conversation with Naoki is interrupted by a distant rumbling, a rumbling that is followed by a small tremor that manages to shake The Citadel down to its very foundation. Bits of debris fall from the ceiling, sending the nearby Isran guards to worriedly glance around for any signs of an approaching intruder.
From down one of the halls, the shouting of guards can be heard. What starts as shouts and rallying cries for battle quickly turns into terrified shrieks and screams of pain. Without warning, several cracks mar the smooth stone floor of the hallway, sending several guards toppling over while others clutched at the wall to remain balanced.
And that’s when the creature made its appearance. That was if you could even call it a “creature”. Trying to discern its actual form was an exercise in futility given its almost liquid-like nature as it surged down the hallway. Its body was composed of a thick, sticky, sludge-like substance that seemed to change in both shape and physical properties rather rapidly.
Given the monstrosity filled the entire hallway, even the most skilled of fighters had little hope of avoiding the beast’s attack. Ulfang would find himself swept up along with the rest of the guards as the creature rolled through the hallway with the power of a dammed-up river that had just been released. Swiftly pulling Ulfang and a number of guards away from Naoki’s office in a matter of moments, the creature suddenly swerved, part of the sludge suddenly hardening as it smashed through an interior wall and moved deeper into the Citadel…
Greed led the way to Naoki’s Office, his heart pounding as they grew closer and closer. Head swiveling to check every corner, every nook and cranny an ambush might be waiting for them. But he didn’t find any. In fact, he found quite the opposite. The corridor before them was empty, too empty. What should have been the most heavily guarded place in the Citadel was currently free of guards, something had happened here just moments before. What had been that shaking they’d felt and the shouts they’d heard?
Whatever good luck had favored them, they had no time to waste, he could already hear the shouts of more guards and running footsteps moving this way. They weren’t the only ones who’d noticed the disturbance so close to the Empress. Grabbing the handle to the door that led to Naoki’s office, Greed attempted to open it but was not surprised in the slightest to find it completely unyielding. Wordlessly, he stepped back, while turning towards Pride expectantly. They’d no doubt placed numerous wards on the door, enough that even with his enhanced strength it’d be unlikely he’d be able to leave a dent on it. This was an obstacle that would need to be dealt with by the Master.
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Storyteller
Committed
Roleplay posts: 63
Registered: Jan 22, 2019 10:58:11 GMT -8
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Post by Storyteller on Jun 12, 2020 12:15:12 GMT -8
Pride steps forward once Greed is finished. The key to any plot like this was inside information, the cabal that had hired him had all been inside of The Citadel at one point or another and they'd given him a mostly complete list of the wards on her office. Of course, they couldn't get him everything but he was, arguably, the greatest rune scribe in the entire world. He was certainly the only one that had figured out how to etch and power runes into living flesh without killing the hosts. So once he'd gotten about eighty percent of the rune map he'd been able to take an educated guess at the remainder.
Of course, he still had to inspect them thoroughly before he acted. It wouldn't due to try and disarm them and wind up blowing the entire wing of the citadel. Fortunately the mask he had to wear carried many interesting functions within it including a spell that made magic light up much as it did for the eyes of his creations. He studies the runes for a few moments, as Lust keeps a watch on their backs, before eventually pulling out a small hammer and chisel. Four new lines and a small investment of power and then there is a sound like thunder cracking across the sky within the office and the corridor.
The door pushes open easily once the lock is forced and Pride steps inside. "Good morning your eminence." He says his tone calm, level, pleasant. "How wonderful to finally meet you in the flesh. You've taken such good care of my spiritual son Alden it seems almost a shame that it has taken this long for us to meet. And an even greater shame that we are doing so under such circumstances." His eyes sweep the room taking in their guards and dismissing them as of little importance. The real question he had, the question that Naoki might share at this time was, where was Alden?
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